1. hobbies and interests
2. arts and crafts
3. knitting

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W E S T C O A S T K N I T T E R S ’ N E WS
Volume 14 Issue 1
 Editor: Paulette Lane 604-730-4628 [email protected], [email protected]
Whole number 78
 Contributors: Anna Knowlson, Valerie Pollock, Mariela Johansen, Y Emmons, Bev Gray, Agnes Mertin
January 2012
 Distribution: Janet Crawford, Stephanie Langley
Published 6 times per year. Opinions expressed are solely those of the author.
To be content in life, you must have a passion, ours is knitting.
West Coast Knitters’ News
Word of the Year
Recently, I have encountered several Word of
the Year articles; some for a word that stands
out in the year past and others to select a word
of inspiration for the year to come. This got me
thinking about a word of the year for the 2011
knitting community. A lot has happened this
year that was a carryover from the year before.
Socks are still a big hit (Sock would be my
word for 2010), as are shawls and shawlettes.
Charity knitting is still an activity for most
knitters. The attraction to hand dyed yarns is
still there. The increasing number of knitters
can easily support a variety of interests but
none of these really stands out.
Digital is my word of the year for the 2011
knitting community. In the digital world, the
old and the new have merged very well. The
number of e-books and apps available increases daily. Knitters Magazine, Vogue Knitting, our newsletter are now available in digital
subscriptions, new knitting e-mags are popping
up, and many of our favourite books are being
digitized so knitters can carry their knitting
libraries on their laptops.
The Internet has been a fantastic means of
communicating for knitters around the world
but, apps at your fingertips for knitting needle
collections, for calculating the amount of yarn
required for a garment, for keeping track of
projects, and apps for all things knitting are
just too good to ignore.
Where will we go from here?
Happy Knitting and Crocheting New Year!
What’s Inside
President’s Message
4
Show and Share
4
Sweet Georgia Yarns
5
Nova House Needs
6
Yarn Swapping Part 4
7
Guild Members Charity Knitting
8
Woollen hotel room
9
10
Our Back Pages
Why We Knit
Calendar of Events
Baby Sweater with Button-on Bib
10
11
12
Overview of November Meeting
Courtesy of Anna Knowlson
Mariela welcomed 53 members and guests:
New member, Joanne Westman, her second
time here, has been knitting since the age of ten,
and is glad to be in a room full of knitters. New
member, Karen Holden works at Three Bags
Full and has been knitting since the age of nine
or ten. Guest, Shirley Milligan from Nanaimo,
was visiting family in the area and dropped in to
say “hello”.
The Purple Cap Knitting Campaign saw over
5,000 caps collected in BC putting BC among
the top three leaders in contributions! Utah was
first with 6,866; North Carolina was second
with 7,500; and we were third with 5,078. Kansas ranked a close fourth with 5,000; and Oregon was fifth with 4,300. There is more information on the Click for Babies website:
http://clickforbabies.org/ The Children's Hospital sent the Guild a thank you letter for
participating.
Mariela received a request from Judy Bulengier
for someone to mend or re-knit a stocking inherited from her Grandmother. It needs about eight
(Continued on page 2)
Page 2
inches of re-knitting.
Another request comes from George Pearson Centre. The
residents are always cold because of their physical conditions. The request is for good patterns for arm and leg
warmers, and recommendations for suitable yarns. Please
send suggestions to Mariela.
W E S T C O AS T K N I T T E R S ’ N EW S
will be over 120 tables of hand-made craft work that has
been selected by jury. We will be in room 212 upstairs and
need people to sign up for two-hour shifts. Lorna reminded
us that this is our major effort to raise funds for the Guild’s
annual Nova House donation. A representative of Nova
House will receive the cheque at our December meeting.
Members can buy items remaining from the craft sale at the
December meeting.
Margaret Ventakaya and her team of knitters created over
80 caps for the Seaman’s Mission, and about 160 for the
Union Gospel Mission. Margaret expressed heartfelt thanks Y Emmons reminded us that there is a crochet group at
Wool and Wicker on Tuesdays at 7 pm. She also recomto the knitters for this generous contribution.
mended a book for learning crochet, called Teach Yourself
Bev Gray brought the balls of yarn and general pattern in- Visually Crochet by Cecily Keim.
structions for the green and off-white Afghan planned for
Special guest, Felicia Lo of Sweet Georgia Yarns gave a
the Knitters' Guild 20th Anniversary Afghan. Bev will asvery interesting presentation. Aren’t we glad she decided to
semble the squares that members knit.
dye yarn instead of bake bread?
Holli Yeoh reminded us that the Donna Druchunas Workshops are only a short week and a half after the November Reminder that the December meeting is our annual Pot
meeting! We were reminded that the Friday evening lecture Luck Social. Please remember that it starts a little earlier,
is included in the workshop fee. But the lecture alone is $10 at 6:30 pm.
in advance or at the door. Another volunteer is needed for
Thought for the month: With regard to a workshop:
that weekend – please see Holli or Edita – for volunteering “One woman had the good sense to bring a hiker's headyou will get a lunch and be able to eavesdrop on a worklamp so that she could keep a sharper eye on her work. This
shop, and get 25% off the fee. Someone is needed to make genius stroke was mitigated by how fiercely others were
coffee in the morning, at lunch and in the afternoon. Sup- blinded when she looked up, but every great idea has some
bugs to be worked out.” - Adrienne Martini, Sweater Quest:
plies are available.
my year of knitting dangerously
Bring books for Donna to sign. Needle Arts Books has
Donna’s books in stock.
Lorna Brown talked about the Dunbar Fall Craft Fair. There
Executive -The following members volunteer their time
to make the guild better.
President - Mariela Johansen
Past President - Bev Gray
Vice-President - Edita Michalek
Treasurer - Lorna Brown
Secretary and Recorder - Anna Knowlson
Membership - Jane Stringer
Newsletter Editor - Paulette Lane
Distribution - Janet Crawford, Stephanie Langley
Web Editor - Anne Walsh
Members at Large - Elizabeth Purves, Mary Scott, Janet Crawford
Workshops - Holli Yeoh, Edita Michalek
Show & Tell - Valerie Pollock
Door Prizes– Eileen Kitamura
The Guild meets the first Tuesday of every month at 7:00 pm
in the Oakridge Centre, 41st and Cambie, Vancouver in the
Seniors Room. Annual Membership: $25 per year September
to August. Associate Membership is $12 per year to receive
the newsletter and registration notification for workshops.
[email protected] www.westcoasknitters.org 
(Continued on page 3)
West Coast Knitters’ News is published 6 times per year.
Contributions are welcome and encouraged. If you have read
a good knitting book or magazine, have an interesting story to
tell about your knitting or travels with your knitting or
another knitter's knitting, or how you found the WCK, if you
have a knitting tip or learned something from a book or
another knitter that enlightened you, or if you have an idea
for the newsletter or a complaint, I would like to hear about it. If
you have something knitting or fibre related to sell, you can
reach all the members with a free ad in the newsletter.
If you have a fibre related business, we accept advertising
from members or fibre related shops for a nominal fee.
To make a contribution, ask a question or ask for assistance
in preparing a contribution, contact Paulette at 604-730-4628
or [email protected]
Deadline for submissions is the 15th of the month previous
to publication:
December 15 for the January newsletter
February 15 for the March newsletter
April 15 for the May newsletter
June 15 for the July newsletter
August 15 for the September newsletter
October 15 for the November newsletter 
W E S T C O A S T K N I T T E R S ’ N E WS
Overview of December Meeting
Page 3
Holli reminded us that our workshop fees were an excellent
deal in comparison to similar workshops. The Madrona
Courtesy of Anna Knowlson Winter Retreat is coming up in February at twice the price.
Mariela gave a special thanks to all those who so generously The Sock Summit charges $75 per class.
helped to make two recent events such successes. In particu- Holli hopes that Lucy Neatby will be a possibility for a
lar, Holli Yeoh and Edita Michalek for their hard work in
workshop in the Fall of 2013.
pulling together the November workshops and Lorna Brown
Holli announced that one of her patterns is the leading patfor organizing the Dunbar Craft Faire sale.
tern in the coming issue of Knit Simple magazine.
Lorna Brown brought items that were left over from the sale
Regarding the Craft Sale, Lorna reported that although the
for members to purchase at the beginning of the meeting.
weather, the room and the people were the same as last year,
The Seymour Art Gallery, FibreEssence & WAVe
sales increased by $600, for a total of $1,500. The yarn, the
(Wearable Arts Vancouver) will present The Art of Fashion. work, and the creativity were big pluses in addition to the
This is a call for entries by December 14th and participation materials and labour donated by members! Other factors
in the second Art of Fashion show and sale, to be held at the may have been the prediction of cold weather by the meteArtemis Studio Gallery and The Seymour Art Gallery in
orologists, and that we knew in advance what would sell
Deep Cove, North Vancouver, on Sunday, April 1, 2012. A well and members contributed accordingly. Popular items
designer will choreograph the fashion show. Show and sale were Christmas ornaments, Portage and Main hats, and toys.
to take place between 2 and 4:30 pm, and refreshments will
Special Guest, Rebecca Avendano, Director of Developbe served at both locations. Any questions please contact the
ment and External Relations, Nova House comes to this poshow committee: Joyce Redford, [email protected]
sition after being in the Community Education Program for
Ros Aylmer, [email protected]
six years. She answered questions about Nova House and
www.vgfa.org/NewWebsite/callArtofFashion.htm
received the Guild’s cheque in the amount of $2000.
FibreEssence call for entry - Cherry Blossoms: a Textile
Nova House is a ten bedroom shelter for women and chilTranslation. April 17 to 29, 2012 at the Silk Purse Gallery,
dren fleeing violence. It is a unique service in Richmond.
1570 Argyle Ave, West Vancouver. Entries can be
Women can stay thirty days; advocates and support workers
48 inches wide or smaller, and follow the cherry blossom
help them find jobs and housing. They have programs for
theme using anything from real petals to the suggestion of
the prevention of teen violence. Newcomers to Canada
pink in an abstract design. Original work only; functional
sometimes find themselves in a position where they are
pieces as well as wall pieces are welcome. Deadline, March
earning more than their husband, which can add to the stress
19, 2012. For more detailed information, contact Judy
the family is already experiencing as newcomers.
Villett at 604-215-8537, or [email protected]
A member wanted to know how many women go back to a
Mittens are needed for a lady dying of cancer. Mittens were
troubled relationship. The answer was that for some women
chosen from the sale items brought back from the Dunbar
it is very difficult to break the cycle of violence. They might
Craft Sale.
return to Nova house as many as six times. They may have
At the Donna Druchunas workshops, Elaine Yee was reto leave the area entirely, which means leaving behind an
sponsible for the food, Edita Melchek hosted Donna.
extended family and community as well as the abuser.
Loraine Matsuo and Bev Grey also played important roles.
A member asked if Nova House was still working with senHolli tells us that there was an excellent turnout and the
iors. The answer was that yes, Nova House is still helping
feedback was overwhelmingly positive. It was a great workseniors file papers, deal with disability applications, etc.
shop. Participants said that it was presented as advertized, it
Thought for those who are madly knitting to finish prewas a good venue, the information was useful, the notes
sents: “The only place where knitting comes before housewere good, refreshments were good and the catered lunch
work is in the dictionary.” Anonymous 
was appreciated, and that we learned more than we expected. Eighty-five percent of attendees were Guild members. We think that Donna would be an excellent Honourary
Canadian.
Knotted Tail Measure—Before cutting the cast-on
tail, tie knots at milestone lengths for an instant ruler. For
example. bottom border is 2.5 inches, knit 4 inches plain,
start decreasing, and work until piece is 10 inches from
cast-on edge. Tie a knot at 2.5, 4 and 10 inches.
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W E S T C O AS T K N I T T E R S ’ N EW S
President’s Message
A few heartfelt thanks.
Many members of the Guild participated in the very well received workshops presented by Donna Druchunas in November. The workshops were extremely informative and introduced us to new techniques and novel ways of thinking about
our knitting. Thanks are especially to Holli Yeoh, who took the lead in organizing the sessions, and Edita Michalek, who
handled registration and hosted Donna. We are also grateful to Elaine Yee, Bev Gray, and Lorraine Matsuo for helping
behind the scenes with coffee and refreshments.
The annual craft sale at the Dunbar Community Centre was a great success, much of it due to the hard work done by
Lorna Brown. As in years past, she took the lead in getting it organized, overseeing our table, and keeping track of the
finances. On the day of the sale she was helped by Deirdre Arscott, Polly Evenden, Irene Martin, Anne Patterson, Elizabeth Purves, Mary Scott, and Lynn Westwood. Two Guild members, Margaret Davis and Janice Waller, knit up a storm
and contributed a large number of items for the sale. Our thanks go out to all of them for their collective efforts, which
raised a grand total of $1521 from sales at one modest 4’x8’ table! Plus an additional $173 was collected from sales at
the Christmas meeting for a grand total of $1694. The costs were $151.68 for a profit of $1543.32. 
November Show & Tell
by Valerie Pollock
increasing for the shoulders and to the end of the garment.
The original pattern is knit in stocking stitch to the bottom,
therefore has a rolled edge. Linda preferred 4” of single rib
at the bottom as per the shop sample at Three Bags Full. The
points can be worn in the front or to the sides, but Linda
prefers wearing the points to the side. Knit in grey Aslan
Trends King Baby Llama and Mulberry Silk, holding two
Anna Knowlson was preparing for the Donna Druchunas
workshop by practicing a lace pattern from her Arctic Lace strands together, it took exactly four balls. Linda started off
with 8 mm needles and then went down to 7 mm for the ribbook. She decided she needed to create a chart holder for
bing. It seems a bit loose, but the softness of the yarn is to
lace patterns, which she made fro repurposed computer
die for. She couldn’t put the project down, so many other
parts! She used on side of an optical drive and the tiny
strong magnets found on either side of the lens of an optical projects were sidelined. She has some Americo Dehaired
Llama that she had planned to use for a second caponcho,
drive – and voilà! Lace chart holder extraordinaire.
but after finding some interesting variations of the poncho
Mary Scott showed us some of the very cute dinosaurs in
on Ravelry she might use some stashed yarn instead. Emma
multi-coloured purples, blues and blue greens that she has
Fassio has a new poncho called Ginevra Caponcho, which
knit for the craft sale. The Knoon pattern dinos were knit in may end up with the Dehaired Llama.
wool alpaca.
The second project that Linda showed us was one of three
Holli Yeoh shared the Sock Monkey Halloween costume
knit by Carole Szabo. Linda, Bev Gray and Lorraine Mathat she made for her son. Using men’s grey, white and red tsuo modeled their off-white lace fichu/capelets in soft mowoolen work socks, she pieced the costume together based hair. The pattern was by Debbie Bliss, and the lace was light
on instructions found at instructables.com. Using Peruvian and airy. 
Highland yarn from elann.com, Holli knit a scarf and fingerless mitts for her sixteen-year-old niece. She adapted an existing scarf pattern, and used the chart from the Rowan Union Jack scarf chart at the bottom, backed by a pocket to
hide the back side of the colourwork. Using the chart again,
she threw together the mittens on the fly! The colours she
used for this great project were Slate, Garnet, Indigo and
Bisque. We also got a sneak peak at an upcoming pattern for
Entrelac gloves that Holli will be publishing soon. Knit in
Noro Silk Garden Light in turquoise and copper.
Y Emmons shared the rose pink cuffs that she made for her
sawed-off boots. She has been working sleight of boot
magic with her crocheting: practice, practice, practice! She
is mastering the single crochet, half double crochet and the
astoundingly quick double crochet. In the future, she wishes
to crochet in circles to make flowers.
Linda Hull had two projects to show us. The first, Rose’s
Caponcho by Emma Fassio is a free pattern on Ravelry.com.
The caponcho is knit from the top down with a long cowl
W E S T C O A S T K N I T T E R S ’ N E WS
Sweet Georgia Yarns
Page 5
Anna Knowlson
2008, she opened her studio in a working studio-apartment.
on east 4th Avenue. At present there are five people in the
750 square foot studio and store. To visit the studio, you
Felicia runs Sweet Georgia Yarns, an artisan yarn company must buzz the number at the entry-way and go up to the
that she launched in 2005. At present she has twelve kinds of apartment on the fourth floor, #401-228 East 4th Avenue
near Main.
yarn or fibre, and fifty-six hand-dyed colours.
Felicia Lo gave us a wonderful slide-show presentation of
her work, complete with an abundance of yarns and many
samples of knitted work.
Felicia dyes natural fibres using wool of different breeds,
mohair, silk, cashmere. Although, there is some nylon in the
sock yarn. Specific wools come from Britain and New Zealand. Spinning is also taught at the studio, although these
days most of the studio space is used for drying yarn and
preparing warps for weaving. Felicia uses so much room for
the yarn that she no longer has space to do her own weaving.
The kitchen of the studio apartment is used purely for dying
The name “Sweet Georgia” was originally what she would
yarn! After the yarn has been soaked, dyed, heat set and
have called her bakery, if she had continued to develop her
rinsed, it takes an afternoon in the summer and two days in
interest in baking. Instead she went further in the direction of winter to properly dry the yarn or fibre.
yarn dying, and used the name for the yarn company.
Felicia showed us slides of a third generation Indigo dyer in
Vancouver is her inspiration for colour. That is, as winter
Japan, and talked about alternative fibres, and hand-painting
approaches, we need more colour to off-set the winter greys. natural dyes onto fibre. Hand-painting is a time consuming
She mentioned that Kaffe Fassett also said that when work- process, but the results are wonderful.
ing in London, he had to conjure colour out of the greyness
Sweet Georgia offers a yarn club, a sock yarn club, and a
there. Interestingly, Felicia's father is an academic and a
fibre club. Members get a surprise every month – this pushes
painter from Toronto. He came to Vancouver to paint the
water and mountains. This leap of faith was an inspiration to everyone to try something different. Felicia showed us a
Felicia, who actually has a degree in Pharmaceutical Science “Wet Coast” Winter Colour Way done for the Olympics. She
from UBC. She admired her father's passion for his own art, did custom dying for the film “Little Red Riding Hood”,
which had hand-crafted props on the set. She also does cusand that has helped her to pursue artistic interests, too.
tom dying for weddings – for instance she showed us a
While at UBC, Felicia became obsessed with Ballroom
bride's wedding shawl, which required six skeins of cashDancing, and competed for six years. She says watching
mere-silk lace weight yarn. The free pattern is available
Ballroom Dancing is like watching racehorses in action:
online.
every detail is perfect and exquisite. The vivid ballroom cosShe has designed scarf and hat patterns while waiting at the
tume colours inspired her choice of colours for the Sweet
border to go to Ballard Washington for dying workshops.
Georgia yarns.
She designs lovely patterns such as Creekside Cables Hat,
In September of 2005, she began learning to dye by wrapNorth Wind Hat, and the Ballard Slouch Hat, all seen online
ping the yarn in saran wrap, and then blogging about the
at her beautifully designed website.
experience. People wanted to buy her yarn. In November of www.sweetgeorgiayarns.com/ Twitter: HeySweetGeorgia 
Initially, Felicia went to the Vogue Knitting Conference in
San Francisco. She began writing a knitting blog, and things
grew from there. In 2005 she started learning how to dye her
own yarn. She is passionate, relentless, and unapologetic
about her interest in yarns, colours, spinning, weaving and
dying. She has found that she learned so much more when
she learned to dye the yarn herself.
Guild Contact e-mails
President: Mariela Johansen
[email protected]
Vice-president: Edita Michalek
[email protected]
Membership: Jane Stringer - [email protected],
Newsletter editor: Paulette Lane
[email protected]
General information or comments
[email protected]
Comments can also be posted on the guild website,
www.westcoastknitters.org 
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W E S T C O AS T K N I T T E R S ’ N EW S
Nova House Needs
Nova House is a transition house offering safe shelter, advocacy, emotional support and information for women and their
children, who are escaping violence in intimate relationships.
It was opened by CHIMO Crisis Services in 1981.
CHIMO Crisis Services has been providing services to individuals and families since 1973. CHIMO grew out of the
results of a needs assessment in the early 1970’s. With
Richmond’s increasing population and diversity, it was
clear that local crisis and suicide intervention services were
needed. Today, these include volunteer staffed crisis lines
in English, Mandarin and Cantonese and professional counseling to children and adults of all ages.
scarves, children's toys or games (some of these are given
as birthday gifts during a child's stay at the house).
Support packages (to help a woman get back on her feet) bus tickets, food vouchers, drug store vouchers, multivitamins, coffee coupons, movie passes, restaurant coupons, taxi coupons, shoulder bags, lunch totes, backpacks,
umbrellas.
Departure packages (the gift that lasts) - totes and bags as
above, luggage, food vouchers and gift certificates of all
kinds, linens (new), flatware, cleaning products.
Packaged, non-perishable food items, including special
Asian and South Asian non-perishables such as rice are
also needed.
CHIMO is funded by the provincial government but without the financial support of community groups like ours,
they would not be able to offer the current depth of service. Many of these items cost little but make a big difference.
Next time you are in the grocery or drug store, or see a good
Women and children often arrive at Nova House with noth- sale for any of the items listed above, pick up one of two
ing but the clothes they are wearing. On arrival, during
items for Nova House and deliver it to the address below.
their stay, and on departure, the residents are provided with
CHIMO accepts donations all year not only at Christmas.
personal items of necessity.
Financial donations receive a tax receipt—win/win.
Arrival packages (the first gift a woman receives on arrivCHIMO Crisis Services
ing at Nova House) - slippers (all sizes), housecoats (all
sizes), shampoo, deodorant, and other personal care items, 120-7000 Minoru Blvd, Richmond, BC V6Y 3Z5
270-4911, Fax: 270-4915, TTY: 270-4900
nightwear, underwear (new), towels (new), socks, gloves,
www.chimocrisis.com [email protected] 
Guild Friendly Yarn Shops offer 10% discount on yarn to guild members.
Show your membership card before making your purchase.
Baad Anna’s, 2667 East Hastings, Vancouver BC V5K 1Z5 604-255-2577
Beehive Wool Shop, 1700 Douglas Street, Victoria, BC V8W 2G7 250-385-2727, 1-888-334-9005
Black Sheep Yarns, 88 Grant Street, Port Moody, BC V3H 0B6 778-355-9665
88 Stitches, #602-21183-88th Ave, Langley, BC V1M 2B5 604-888-6689
Gina Brown Yarns, 3424 West Broadway, Vancouver, BC V6R 2B3 604-734-4840
Grand Prix Hobbies 3038 West Broadway, Vancouver, BC, V6K 2H1 604-733-7114
Homecraft Importers, 2348 West 4th Avenue, Vancouver, BC V6K 1P1 604-738-2614
Knitopia Wools Company, #1411 Hillcrest Mall, 1457 Johnston Rd, White Rock, BC V4B 3Z4 778-294-5440
Maiwa Handprints Ltd., #6 1666 Johnston St., Granville Island, Vancouver, BCV6H 3S2 604-669-3939
Needle & Arts Centre, 910 Island Highway, Campbell River, BC V9W 2C3 250-287-8898, 1-888-588-7834
Pagan Yarns, 112 Hilchey Road, Campbell River, BC V9W 1P4 250-923-2780
Penelope Fibre Arts, 16055-8th Avenue, Surrey, BC V4A 1A1 778-292-1282
Shan's Needleworks, Suite 101-624 Columbia Street, New Westminster, BC V3L 1X6 604-526-2637
Three Bags Full, 4458 Main Street, Vancouver, BC V5V 3R3 604-874-WOOL/604-874-9665
Unwind Knit and Fibre Lounge, #8, 1161 Sunshine Coast Highway, Gibsons BC V0N 1V4 604.886.1418
Urban Yarns, 4437 West 10th Avenue, Vancouver, BC V6R 2H8 604-228-1122
Wool & Wicker, #120-12051 Second Avenue, Richmond, BC 604-275-1239, 1-877-966-5949 
“She picked up her knitting and went to work putting her single daily stitch into a sweater that had gone out of style
Who Censored Roger Rabbit by Gary Wolf
twenty years ago...”
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W E S T C O A S T K N I T T E R S ’ N E WS
Yarn Swapping:
Tips for Headache-Free Yarn Substitutions
This five-part series was originally published online in Clara Parke’s Knitter's Review in January 24, 2002, and was
reprised on February 22, 2011. Reprinted with permission. www.knittersreview.com
Submitted by Bev Gray
Beyond gauge, yardage, and accurate swatches, you must always keep in mind: Does your substitute yarn match the
overall look and feel of the original one?
For example, if your original pattern uses a smooth yarn to highlight the pattern's elaborate stitchwork, you want to stick
with a similarly smooth substitute.
Part 4: Textural and Aesthetic Considerations
Likewise, if the original yarn has any special texture, you'll
want to respect this. Examples of textured yarns include
bouclé, slubby, thick-and-thin, furry, eyelash, or other novelty yarns. Depending on the pattern, even brushed mohair
could fall into this category.
But when you get down to just two plies, things change. The
ply shadows deepen, and your stitches take on a slightly
wobbly, cobblestoned look. Pure stockinette in a two-ply
yarn—especially one whose plies are tightly twisted almost
perpendicular to the direction of the fibers—will not be the
same as it is in a smooth three- or four-ply yarn.
Fiber Composition
Matching fiber types is only important if you're working
with yarns whose fibers play an integral part in their overall
aesthetic. Angora, brushed mohair, and baby alpaca are
Different Spins
prime examples of fibers that produce a fuzzy effect, while
Even seemingly simple yarns can produce different surface silk, bamboo, and Tencel are all about drape and sheen.
textures, drapes, and stitch definitions depending on how
Even among the same fibers, if they are spun woolen (as is
they are spun. The subjects of twist, ply, and fibers make up the wool in Brooklyn Tweed Shelter), they will create a
the heart of my book, The Knitter's Book of Yarn.
blurrier fabric than would a smooth worsted-spun wool
Bottom line: The more plies you add to a yarn, the more
(such as Elsa Wool Company's worsted-spun Cormo).
rounded it becomes and the greater definition it gives to
Even in this realm, however, you have leeway in choosing
your stitches. Yarns made up of many plied strands plied
the precise fiber combination. For example, if your pattern
together, such as Alchemy Monarch or Prism Merino 12,
calls for a pricey pure Angora yarn, you can substitute a less
tend to produce the most spongy fabrics with bright, clear
-expensive angora/wool blend and still achieve a similar
stitches. Yarns with four and even three plies still render
visual effect. 
your stitches with fullness and clarity.
If your pattern calls for such yarns, pay extra attention to
finding a similar-textured replacement. It will make a
difference.
West Coast Knitters Guild 20th Anniversary Afghan
In celebration of the Guild's 20th anniversary in 2011, members were asked to create 10 inch/25.5 cm squares of their
own choice of pattern to be assembled into an afghan. The Guild supplied the yarn, twentieth anniversary emerald green
and off white, and Bev Gray will assemble the squares. All the yarn was distributed at the November meeting and already the squares are starting to come in. The afghan will be raffled in 2012 with the proceeds going to Nova House. 
Looking for ...
Looking for a member(s) who can periodically write short articles for the newsletter
from their own ideas or suggestions, and a
member(s) who can regularly edit or work
from existing text (maximum 2-3 hours per newsletter).
Please e-mail [email protected] 
100 Yard rule—If a yarn is 12 wraps per inch, the yardage required for a plain knit, size medium adult sweater with
2-4 inches in ease is 1200 yards. This is a good starting figure. A heavily textured sweater needs about 10% more while
a lace pattern requires about 10% less. 
Page 8
W E S T C O AS T K N I T T E R S ’ N EW S
Guild Members Charity Knitting
Project Linus
Mary Scott—[email protected] or Wool and Wicker in
Steveston.
The second Friday of each month at Wool and Wicker ( 120
- 12051 Second Ave. Richmond), to fold and pack up donated blankets. These blankets are all new, machine washable and dryable. Some are knitted, others are crocheted,
some quilts have also been donated. All sizes are accepted
but larger than 36"x36" up to crib/lap size are the most
practical. The Variety Club picks up the blankets and distributes them
New, handmade, washable blankets given as gifts to seriously ill and traumatized children, ages 0-18. All sizes and
styles of blankets are welcome, including quilts, tied comforters, fleece blankets, crocheted or knitted afghans, and receiving blankets in child-friendly
colors.
http://sites.google.com/site/projectlinuscanada/
Guild Sale for Nova House
Lorna Brown—[email protected]
Items are collected all year: Hats, flap caps, mittens with and without fingers, socks, children's
garments, animals/dolls/toys to sell in the Fall.
Whatever is not sold at the sale is given to Nova
House or one of the other charities.
Nova House, a transition house for abused women and children. CHIMO Crisis Centre in Richmond is responsible for
funding and managing Nova House. CHIMO relies on donations from groups like the WCKG and caring individuals
to keep this essential service operating. www.chimocrisis.com/02programs/02novahouse.html
Aunt Leah’s Independent Lifeskills Society
Journey with youth to self sufficiency
Mariela Johansen—[email protected]
pel Mission. Please leave the stamps on the envelopes or cut
a half-inch margin around the stamps. Thousands of dollars
are raised for the Mission from donated used postage
stamps.
Union Gospel Mission offers hope to hungry, hurting and
homeless men, women and children in Metro Vancouver.
www.ugm.ca/our-work
Loneliness, danger and separation from loved ones are just
some of the problems seafarers face. Around the world,
night and day, The Mission to Seafarers provides help and
support to those in need. www.missiontoseafarers.org/
Purple Cap Campaign for the Period of Purple Crying
Deadline is October 26, 2011. Newborn-size purple caps
will be collected at the October Guild meeting.
Purple cap knitting campaign aims to raise awareness
about the Period of PURPLE Crying. Purple caps are
distributed to new parents in birthing hospitals across
BC along with the PURPLE DVD and booklet during
the week of November 22 in celebration of National
Child Day, November 20. http://clickforbabies.org/
www.purplecrying.info http://dontshake.ca
St. Paul’s’ Hospital Obstetrics
Bev Gray – [email protected]
St. Paul’s currently has enough newborn and baby
items. A request will be made when more items are needed.
Canada Comforts Society
Mary Scott—[email protected]
Knitted items for the needy of the world are required: clothing, hats, scarves, blankets, washcloths for cleaning newborns.
Blanket sizes: Baby: 40in x 40in Crib: 45in x 60in
Single Bed: 60in x 72in
http://artofyarn.livejournal.com/21218.html
www.crwarehouse.ca
Throws or Afghans for the resident’s to wrap themselves in
Canada Comforts Drop-Offs:
while watching TV. Baby blankets and newborn sweaters
for teen Moms are also appreciated.
Vancouver: Mount Pleasant Neighbourhood House, contact
Nancy 604-879-8208 - 800 E. Broadway (east of Fraser St)
Aunt Leah’s Society helps prevent children in foster care
from becoming homeless, and mothers in need from losing N. Vancouver: North Shore Neighbourhood House 604-987
custody of their children. To support them on their journey -8138 - 225 E. 2nd Street. Leave items in the laundry bag in
of self-sufficiency, we provide supported housing, job train- the Exec. Director’s office
ing and coaching on the essential skills. www.auntleahs.org Surrey: Charlotte Phillips 604-531-8712
Union Gospel Mission, Seaman’s Mission
Margaret Venkataya—[email protected]
3838 156B St. (close to White Rock)
Victoria yarn donations: Beehive Wool Shop, 1700 Douglas
Meet at Margaret’s home in Richmond to knit toques on the Street, Victoria, BC 250-385-2727, 1-888-334-9005 
second Tuesday of the month from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm.
Everyone is welcome.
Margaret also collects used postage stamps for Union Gos-
Page 9
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Knit wit: Britain's first, and probably last, woollen hotel room
Britain's obsession with knitting shows no sign of abating as the first 'knitted' hotel room opens
Isabel Choat, guardian.co.uk, Friday 21 October 2011
Knitting has long since moved on from granny pastime to
cool retro activity favoured by young hipsters. From stitch
and bitch sessions – the naughtie's version of the coffee
morning – to the more recent guerilla knitting where
"graffiti" artists with nicknames such as Deadly Knitshade
adorn public spaces with their cool wool creations, knitting
is becoming almost as popular as the nation's other favourite retro obsession – baking.
Now the Pelirocco in Brighton, a kitsch hotel whose funky
rooms are inspired by "sex sirens and maverick musicians"
has got in on the act with a knitted bedroom.
Designed by Brighton local and artist Kate Jenkins, the
room features her trademark knitted food – in a wooly fryup – a knitted telephone, curtains and toothpaste and
toothbrush, not to mention the more traditional knitted bedspread. In keeping with the rest of the hotel's rooms, Jenkins' room has its own name – the Do Knit Disturb room.
Boom boom!
In a departure from the hotel's speciality as Brighton's
"sauciest stopover", Do Knit Disturb is a single room. The
Diana Dors-inpired Pin Up Parlour or the sexy Play Room
suite might be a better bet for a dirty weekend away, but for
sheer novelty value and cuteness – or for anyone with a
wool fetish – Do Knit Disturb is hard to beat.
Knitting – it's the new rock'n'roll. Next up: the bakingthemed room?
01273 327055, hotelpelirocco.co.uk, £55 per night weekdays or
£69 weekends
www.guardian.co.uk/travel/2011/oct/21/knitting-knittedhotel-room-pelirocco?fb=native&CMP=FBCNETTXT9038
Thanks to Anne at Wool-Tyme Kingston for the link to this story.
The Pelirocco hotels's Do Knit Disturb room.
Photographs: Andy Nelson
Newsletter available electronically
If you wish to receive the newsletter electronically, e-mail Stephanie Langley, [email protected], who is
managing the electronic distribution. This is an optional delivery method; the newsletter is still being mailed to
members who do not put their name on the electronic list. 
Page 10
W E S T C O AS T K N I T T E R S ’ N EW S
Our Back Pages
For the Guild’s 20th Anniversary, this space featured previously printed articles from the Guild newsletter. With only six
issues in the year to share some of the treasures, I decided to keep this going for a few more issues. The article below is
from March 2002, Volume 4, Issue 2.
A Colourful Solution to Knitting on Airplanes
by Judy Daniels
What will I do on the plane if I can’t knit? But you can. So, did she manage that? My aunt is planning to hide a plastic
the airline of your choice forbids knitting needles?
crochet hook (one she won’t mind giving up) in her bra or
It’s not fair. Businessmen are allowed their pens and
sock on her next journey through a security check. Or how
about circular needles masquerading as bra under
pencils. These are as sharp as knitting needles.
wires?
Well, coloured pencils, sharpened to a dull point
on both ends are just the right gauge (7.5mm) for buffalo
wool or chunky yarn. Crayola brand are the best. They
sharpen smoothly without splintering the wood. Coat the
exposed wood with several coats of white glue for the
smoothest tips.
I knit almost an entire toque on a recent flight. I also saw a
lady in the Seattle airport with a metal crochet hook. How
Knitters are people of ingenuity and persistence,
also usually non-violent. We will find a way to
keep on knitting. 
Lily Chin goes through security with her plastic circular
needles twisted together and worn as a headband. -Ed
Why We Knit…
by Y Emmons
Each grouping of reasons has a foothold in the next grouping, like climbing knitting mountain; from relations, to tension
reliever to colour and texture. The observation of personal words written, etched in clay, or stone or computer preservation makes me feel like I am glowing/resonating with fellow knitters’ words.
Nicki:
Anonymous:
Knitting is healthy.
I like to create, designing is an art.
- to relax
- time for myself
- love the colours
- love the end product.
Bonnie Anderson:
Knits “because I love it”. It’s relaxing; my therapy has become almost obsessive. I am knitting a Berroco shrug named
Annette:
Kiana in linen.
Why Do We Knit?
Sunny Kim:
1. I love yarn - the colours are therapy
When I was 20 something, I knitted for myself many items, 2. I love the “process” - busy fingers.
because I wanted to make me more beautiful, better looking.
3. I love the challenge of patterns & construction (garments)
Now, I am knitting for peace. I have a tremendous burden in 4. keeps my brain active
life. I can’t stop drama in my brain. Now I am addicted.
5. I get to wear my socks!! 
Wonderful life, feel gratitude, grace, and love etc.
Anonymous:
I knit because I love colour, texture, and must create, fanciful
or useful, doesn’t matter.
Empty hands feel like a waste of time somehow.
Anonymous:
• I love to watch the patterns grow on my needles.
• I love to work with colour.
• I get satisfaction from accomplishment - a finished
garment. well done.
Page 11
W E S T C O A S T K N I T T E R S ’ N E WS
Calendar of Events
February 16-19—13th Madrona Winter Retreat—Workshops, marketplace, demonstrations, clinics, evening events.
Teachers: Jean Wong, Sarah Swett, Deborah Robson, Nancy Marchant, Amy Detjen, Gayle Roehm,Lucy Neatby; Beth
Brown-Reinsel; Elise Duvekot, Jane Slicer-Smith; Kris Abshire, Carol Rhoades, Franklin Habit, Judith MacKenzie, Jared
Flood, Stephanie Pearl-McPhee, Betsy Hershberg, Janine Bajus. Hotel Murano Tacoma, WA [email protected]
425-222-3554 www.madronafiberarts.com
May 13-24—Lakes & York Knitters’ Tour with Jean Moss—First five days in the beautiful Lake District near Windermere and the last six days in the historic city of York. Workshops will be given by Martin Storey, Carol Meldrum and Jean
Moss. Luxury accommodation, visits to off-the-beaten-track yarn producers, places and people that knitters, textile and
fibre lovers will relish including the Rowan Mill. Holmfirth, Wordsworth's house at Rydal Mount and Castle Howard.
www.jeanmoss.com/tours.html Ravelry Travelers with Jean Moss group.
May 25-27—14th Annual Okanagan Knitting Retreat—Knitting Foundations...Skills to build on—Sorrento Centre,
Sorrento, BC. Choice of four workshops: Fibre Foundations with Paulette Lane, Lace Foundations with Myriam Dostert,
Fair Isle Foundations with Celeste Culpepper, Colour Foundations with Janet Armstrong. Optional Friday workshops are a
reprise of workshops from previous retreats. Visit www.janetarmstrong.com for full details and online registration. Contact
Janet Armstrong at 250-545-2474 or [email protected].
May 25-June 3—10th Annual Saskatchewan Stitches Conference—Creative classes with renowned fibre and needle
work artists that attracts knitters, crocheters, sewers, quilters and rug hookers from across Canada. Watch the website,
www.hausofstitches.ca/ for details, sign up for e-mail notification, or follow Haus of Stitches on Facebook.
June 2-16—14-Day Scotland, Shetland & Norway Cruise—Cruise out of Holland to Scotland, Shetland and Norway
onboard the beautiful Rotterdam with one of the world's leading Shetland lace experts, Joan Schrouder. Join Craft Cruises
as we set sail out of Rotterdam to some of the most scenic cruising areas in the world on a Norwegian coastal voyage that
includes Shetland and Scotland. Enjoy the backdrop of dramatic landscapes as you learn new knitting skills and shop for
trendy European yarns. Contact Shannon at [email protected] www.craftcruises.com
July 16-22—Fibre Arts Week in Pincher Creek the beautiful foothills of Southwest, Alberta at the Bloomin’ Inn
to work with industry-leading instructors and learn new techniques to perfect your skills. Incredible classes, fibre arts
demonstrations, interesting lectures every day for one fibre-intensive week. Visit www.fibreartsweek.com regularly for updates, or register to be updated by email, [email protected]
June 22 - 29—Fiber week—Olds College and Shuttleworks Ltd—An annual celebration of the fibre arts—Spinning,
weaving, knitting, felting. Check the website for workshops and instructors. Registration opens March 1, 2012. Olds
College, 4500 - 50th Street, Olds, AB, T4H 1R6 1-800-661-6537. www.oldscollege.ca/programs/ContinuingEducation/
fibreweek/index.htm
October 25-February 24, 2013—BAM Biennial 2012: High Fiber Diet—Bellevue Arts Museum: Creative approach to
the fiber medium, considering both traditional expressions of fiber art and the fringes of the medium, where concepts of art
and craft merge. Intended to recognize the innovative and extraordinary work being produced by contemporary Northwest
makers (Washington, British Columbia, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Alaska), and to celebrate the region's distinctive character. 510 Bellevue Way NE, Bellevue WA www.bellevuearts.org/exhibitions/upcoming/bam_biennial_2012 
(Continued from page 12)
on 2 sts. (in rib) over each buttonhole on next row.
29 (31) (33) sts. remain. Dec. 1st at each end of next 5 (6) (6)
rows. Cast off 4 (4) (5) sts. At beg. of next 2 rows. Cast off.
Work 3 more rows in rib. Cast off.
Finishing and Neckband: Press all pieces using a warm
iron over a damp cloth. Join side and shoulder seams.
Front Neckband: Using No. 12 (2-3/4 mm) needles and
with right side of Bib facing pick up and k.21 sts. down left
neck slope. k. across sts. on holder at front neck and pick up
and k.21 sts. up right neck slope Work 3 rows in rib as given
for Back Neckband.
Using No. 10 (3 mm) hook rejoin yarn to bottom corner at
front edge of right front. Work 1 row of firm dc. up front edge.
along top of back shoulder and side of back neckband.
Work other Side to match starting at top of back neckband.
Rejoin yarn to bottom left hand corner of bib and work
row of firm dc. up side. across shoulder and up·side of neckband. Fasten off. Rejoin yarn to neck edge of right side and
work to match left side.
Next row (buttonholes): Rib 2. cast off next 2 sts. in
Join sleeve seams. Insert sleeves. Sew buttons onto front,
rib. rib to last 4 sts. cast off next 2 sts. in rib. rib to end. Cast shoulders and ends of back neckband. 
Page 12
W E S T C O AS T K N I T T E R S ’ N EW S
Baby Sweater with Button-on Bib
pattern from New Zealand submitted by Agnes Merton
Materials
Sweater: 4 (4) (5) 25 gr balls Kaiapoi 4 ply Baby.
Bib: 1- 25 gr ball for one colour bib.
Shape Armhole: Cast off 4 sts. at beg. of next row. Work
1 row straight. Dec. 1 st at armhole edge of every row until
11 sts. remain. Work straight until front measures same as
back to shoulder ending at armhole edge.
Striped Bib: A small amount of three contrast colours.
1 pr. No. 10 (3-1/4mm) and No. 12 (2-3/4 mm) Knitting
Needles.
1 No. 3 mm Crochet Hook (10)
16 Buttons.
Measurements
To fit chest sizes: 45 (50) (55) cm [18 (20) (22) ins].
Length to shoulder: 23 (25.5) (28) .cm [9 (10) (11) ins].
Sleeve seam: 15 (18) (20.5) cm [6 (7) (8) ins].
Tension: 15 sts. and 19 rows to 5 cm (2 ins) measured
over st.-st, on No. 10 (3-3/4 mm) needles.
Abbreviations: Alt. alternate; beg. beginning; cont. continue; dec. decrease; fin. finishing; foil. following; ins.
Inches; inc. increase; k, knit; p. purl; patt. pattern; rep.
repeat; rem. remain; reqd. required; Sl. Slip; sts,
stitches; st.-st. stocking stitch; tog. together; dc. double
crochet.
Back: Using No. 12 (2-3/4 mm) needles
cast on 71 (79) (87) sts.
1st row: K.1. *p.1. k.1 ; rep. from * to end.
2nd row: P.1. *k.1 , p.1 ; rep. from * to end
Rep. the last 2 rows 4 times more.
Change to No. 10 (3-1/4 mm) needles
and work in st.-st. until back measures
14 (15) (16.5) cm [5-1/2 (6) (6-1/2) ins]
or required length to armholes ending
with a purl row.
Shape Armholes: Cast off 4 sts. at beg.
of next 2 rows. Dec. 1 st at each end of
every row until 53 (57) (61) sts. remain.
Work straight until armholes measure
8.9 (10.2) (11.5) cm [3-1/2 (4) (4-1/2)
ins] ending with a purl row.
Shape Shoulders: Cast off 5 sts. at beg.
of next 4 rows, then 3 (4) (5) sts. at beg. of next 2iows.
27 (29) (31) sts. remain. Knit 1 row.
Back Neckband: Change to No. 12 (2-3/4 mm) needles.
1st row: P.1. * k.1 , p.1 : rep. from * to end.
2nd row: K.1. * p.1. k.1 : rep. from * to end.
Rep. the last 2 rows 3 times more. Cast off in rib.
Left Front: Using No 12. (2-3/4 mm) needles cast on 20
(22) (24) sts. and work 10 rows in k.1. p.l rib.
Change to No. 10 (3-1/4 mm) needles and work in st.-st.
until front measures same as back to armhole ending with a
wrong side row.
Shape Shoulder: Cast off 5 sts. at beg. of next row. Work 1
row. Cast off remaining 6 sts.
Right Front: Work to match Left Front reversing all shapings. Mark positions for 6 buttons on each front 1.3 cm (1/2
in) in from front edge. the first 1.3 cm (1/2 in) above lower
edge and allowing for a 7th to be placed on back 0.6 cm
(1/4 in) below top of shoulder. Space remainder evenly
between.
Bib panel: (For striped version work 4 rows in each colour.)
Using No. 12 (2-3/4 mm) needles cast on 43 (47) (51) sts.
and work 4 rows in rib as given for Back.
Next row (buttonholes): Rib 2. cast off next 2 sts. rib to
last 4 sts. cast off next 2 sts. rib 2.
Cast on 2 sts. over each buttonhole on next row.
Work 4 more rows in rib. Change to
No. 10 (3-1/4 mm) needles and work in
st.-st. making buttonholes to match markers on 3rd and 4th sts. from each edge as
before, until work measures 19 (21.5) (24) cm
[7-1/2 (8-1/2) (9-1/2) ins] or 3.8 cm
(1-1/2 ins) less than back to start of shoulder shaping ending with a knit row.
Shape Neck: Purl 14 (15) (16) sts. turn
leaving rem. sts. on a holder. Dec. 1 st at
neck edge of every row until 8 (9) (10) sts.
remain. Work 13 rows straight thus ending at side edge. Make a final buttonhole
on next 2 rows. Work 2 rows.
Shape Shoulder: Cast off 5 sts. at beg. of
next row. Work l row. Cast off.
Slip next 15 (17) (19) sts. at centre onto a
holder.
With wrong side of work facing rejoin
yarn to neck edge of remaining sts, and
purl to end. Complete to match first side reversing shapings.
Sleeves: Using No. 12 (2-3/4 mm) needles cast on 41 (43)
(45) sts, and work 10 rows in rib as given for Back. Change,
to No. 10 (3-1/4 mm) needles and work 4 rows st.-st. inc. 1st
at each end of next and every following 6th (6th) (7th) row
until there are 55 (59) (63) sts. Work straight until sleeve
measures 15 (18) (20.5) cm [6 (7) (8) ins]. or required seam
length ending with a purl row.
Shape Top: Cast off 4 sts. at beg. of next 2 rows. Dec. 1st at
each end of next 5 rows, then every alt. row until
(Continued on page 11)